Council President Mick Donato says Uhrichsville voters should return him to office because of his experience and because he provides government “the right way.”

In the past, he has seen city ordinances passed in a hurry as a matter of expediency. Then, mistakes have been found that have to be corrected.

“It’s harder to correct a mistake than if it was done the right way the first time,” said Donato, 72. “Since I’ve been president, I’ve tried to do things the right way.”

Donato, a retired Indian Valley educator, has been council president since 2001.

He is facing Councilman Mark Haney in the Democratic primary on May 7. No other candidates have filed for the position.

Donato believes that taxes will likely have to be increased to balanced the city’s budget.

“But until the city can get a real accurate picture of the finances, I don’t know if city council can act on any one solution,” he said. “For the past two years, we’ve had figures that said the city was in a dire status. Then, miraculously, we’ve ended the year with plenty of money.”

He noted that levies have been passed in recent years to provide for street department equipment and the ambulance service, but none that help the general fund.

Donato doesn’t support one idea that has been suggested — starting a city-operated ambulance service.

“An ambulance service is not the answer,” he said. “It won’t bring in enough money to run the city.”

The oil and gas industry might provide a solution to Uhrichsville’s financial problems.

“It’s kind of a gamble, but we might want to see what this oil and gas boom might do for our income tax,” he said.

“I’m not saying we won’t have to go with a tax issue, but we should wait and see what impact oil and gas might have.”

He expressed some skepticism toward the idea of sharing services with surrounding communities, such as Dennison.

“I can see some benefits, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to save money,” Donato said. He opposes combining the two communities’ police and fire department simply as a way to eliminate jobs.

“You could combine the departments, but you still have the same area to cover,” he said. “You haven’t shrunk the communities.”

In February, copies of an anonymous letter were left in Uhrichsville’s council meeting room, calling on Donato and two councilmen to resign “for the good of the city.” The letter accused Donato of having a “hostile attitude” toward residents who come to council meetings with questions.

“People get upset with me,” he responded. He said he tries to maintain decorum during meetings.

Page 2 of 2 -
“I do allow people to speak, but it may not be when they want to speak,” he said. “I let people talk, but when the public portion is over, that’s it. Otherwise, you might have mayhem, chaos.”

Donato believes that he has done a good job as council president over the last 12 years, though he acknowledged that some people will probably disagree with that.

“I’ve been in this game off and on since 1967,” he said. “You learn a few things from people, and I’ve tried to apply them to the job of council president. I’m not for rush-rush in government. I know that upsets people.”